AWARDING CEREMONY OF THE FUND OF THE ROYAL HOUSE OF KARADJORDJEVIC SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2002/2003 SCHOOL YEAR

Belgrade, 14 February 2003 – TRH Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine, together with the Fund of the Royal House of Karadjordjevic, organized the ceremony of awarding scholarships for 2002/2003 school year at The White Palace in Dedinje tonight.

The Fund of the Royal House was established with the aim to help the most talented senior undergraduate students of all universities in Serbia and Montenegro.

Scholarships of 160,000 dinars (€ 2,500) were granted to 101 student selected by the expert Commission.

Addressing the grantees HRH Crown Prince Alexander II expressed his belief in their successful completion of their education and added:

“ When I established this Fund, it was my intention to continue the honorable tradition of state benefactors. The second inspiration was the Fund that my grandfather King Alexander established on the day of his wedding, with the aim to support education and health of our nation. The Fund whose grantees are you today has the aim to find young people of great talent in science and art and to help that God’s gift is developed fully. We only ask of you to give wings to your talent and not to forget where you came from. One day, when your careers lead you to the heights of knowledge and glory that are meant for you, look back to your country and find some new young people there, like you are today, and give them a helping hand”.

The letter from the President of Republika Srpska, Mr. Dragan Cavic, addressed to the grantees of the Fund of the Royal House was also read at the ceremony. In it, Mr. Cavic said:

“I extend my warmest congratulations to the grantees of the Fund and my wishes to achieve good results, hoping that they will continue to be the pride of our people, sincerely believing in longevity and success of the noble cause of the Fund of the Royal House of Karadjordjevic”.

The gathered students and invitees were then greeted by the director of the Fund Mr. Dragomir Acovic who pointed out the importance of establishing the new scientific and cultural elite in Serbia and Montenegro. Mr. Acovic also said the Commission had an extremely difficult task this year, for it had a real treasure in front of them, and added:

“Any selection was to a certain extent perverse, for it looked for gold in the gold and light in the light”. He thanked the source of donations who enabled this Fund to function, and to TRH Crown Prince Alexander II and his consort Crown Princess Katherine for the initiative, hospitality and constant care for the generations “who will, for better or worse, inherit this world from us”.

On behalf of the grantees, the student of Serbian language and literature Miss Svetlana Tornjanski addressed the hosts TRH Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine, as well as the guests:

“ I feel honour, pride and great happiness for being here to thank most kindly, on behalf of my esteemed colleagues, for the care, help and support to the young generation of intellectuals, expressed through the scholarships you granted us.

Help at the right moment and support from the Royal House of Karadjordjevics has encouraged our hopes and confirmed that we are on the right track. We pray to the God of Justice to guard Serbian King and Serbian people, like all the people of noble hearts like yours”.

The awarding ceremony was also attended by the members of the Board of the Fund of the Royal House of Karadjordjevic, the members of the selecting Commission, the members of the Crown Council, representatives of Ministries, representatives of religious communities, representatives of the Government of Republika Srpska, diplomatic corps, many other distinguished guests and numerous reporters.